PENOBSCOT BAY PILOT • April 29, 2021
On January 14, 2021 the federal quarantine regulations restricting the movement of the emerald ash borer (EAB) were removed by the USDA to refocus their resources on biological control of the pest. Despite the USDA’s shift in emphasis, Maine will continue to regulate the movement of EAB because an estimated 90% of Maine's ash trees remain outside of the currently regulated quarantine areas. Approximately 4% of trees in Maine’s hardwood forests are ash. In addition to its roles in the forest ecosystem, white ash is a valuable timber species, green ash is an important street tree and black/brown ash is an important cultural resource for the Wabanaki Tribes. EAB threatens all these species of ash trees (but not mountain-ash) and will have significant ecological and economic impacts on the state.